As of September 27, 2024, over half of Sudan's 50 million population faces severe hunger, with UN estimates indicating hundreds die daily from starvation and related diseases. International aid, including essential food supplies, has largely failed to reach those in dire need, such as Raous Flij, a 39-year-old mother of nine living in a displacement camp in South Kordofan.
Raous has received UN food assistance only once in nine months, highlighting the severe challenges posed by the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Relief officials report that the Sudanese army restricts aid delivery, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
In August, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification reported famine conditions in parts of North Darfur, with nine million people in Sudan facing food emergencies. The UN and NGOs struggle to deliver aid due to government restrictions and fears of retaliation against humanitarian workers.
The situation is dire, with reports of mass graves emerging in Darfur as malnutrition and disease spread. The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) has only managed to assist 4.9 million people this year, a mere fraction of those in need. The ongoing conflict and government obstruction have rendered humanitarian efforts nearly ineffective, with calls for more decisive action from international donors.